I can't thank you all enough for this thread -- it's the second time the TDI Forums have got me on the right track with an engine problem. My car kept not starting, and finally I had to have it towed to the mechanic. Fortunately I showed up the next morning, explained the issue to the mechanic. They hadn't looked at it yet, so they were fine with me popping the valve open and driving it home as if nothing ever happened -- but they also seemed to have no concept about the anti-shudder valve.
To recap my symptoms to help folks might be having this problem:
- Engine just start to crank for a moment, then becomes a high-pitched cycling noise before the engine has a chance to start. Continued attempts to turn the engine over just produce the high-pitched cycling noise. That noise is the engine is turning over, but since no air is getting into the engine, there's no compression.
- The above condition would happen intermittently. But it was most common when taking short local trips, especially in really damp or wet weather. I found I could go for a walk, and anytime 5-30 minutes later the car would start as if nothing ever happened (the sticking anti-shudder valve eventually popped back out on its own).
- Anytime the car was started and running, there were no performance issues. There was never a check engine light condition.
------though i had a snow or ice build up in air inlet turns out to be a stickey shutter valve----2000 tdi bug--155,000 thanks soooo much:d----tom
